Gifts are nice, especially when they come in pairs.

On Tuesday, the Pennsylvania Academy of Music received two pianos from Jinqi Ma, the founder of Qinghai Zongheng Culture and Arts Development Corp., an organization devoted to introducing classical music to the Qinghai Province in China.

Through interpreter Xun Pan, chairman of the academy's piano department, Ma said he was glad the Clayderman pianos will "have a good home."

"Bringing the pianos here was like marrying off two daughters," Ma said, smiling, "but they look like they belong here, which makes me happy."

Ma is connected to the academy, which will celebrate its grand opening with a gala concert tonight, through his musical philanthropy.

He has donated more than 80 pianos to various schools in his native China and has hosted numerous concerts by musicians invited from all over the world to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Among those musicians are the members of the Newstead Trio, the academy's ensemble in residence, which consists of pianist Pan, cellist Sara Male and violinist Michael Jamanis.

Ma said accompanying the pianos to the academy in downtown Lancaster marked his first trip to the United States.

"It's pretty here," he told Pan, who translated Ma's words into English. "Lancaster is about the same size as the city I live in, but it seems less crowded. I enjoyed walking around."

He also described Tuesday's blistering weather as "passionate."

As someone who has visited more than his share of music conservatories throughout Asia, Ma described the new 63,000-square-foot academy building on North Prince Street as "special."

"Lots of the conservatories I've been to are definitely huge," Ma said. "But this building is so neat and small, with beautiful details everywhere. The building is alive and has a soul."

The new $25 million facility was designed by acclaimed architect Philip Johnson, who died in 2005.

Ma said the pianos, which were placed in the academy's atrium on Tuesday, each weigh about 330 pounds, and he joked that the airline would not allow him to bring the instruments on board with him.

"I enjoyed playing them," Pan said. "Making music on instruments made as well as these is a great experience."

Ma will attend the academy's gala concert at 6 p.m. today, which will be hosted by actress Claire Bloom.

The Newstead Trio will perform the world premiere of a new work by Chinese composer Chen Yi, who also has written compositions for the Summer Olympics, which are being held in Beijing this summer.

"This is really a vacation for me," Ma said. "I have 10 days here in America."

Ma, who was named "Most Dedicated to the Development of the Minor Regions" in China, said he's very busy.

"I've been invited to visit the academy for about two years," he said, "but with so much to do, I've never had the time until now. I promised pianos when I finally would be able to come."

Pan said he's hoping to squeeze in some sightseeing with Ma during his visit to the U.S., perhaps to Washington D.C., or Philadelphia.

But Ma said not being at the mercy of his busy schedule has been most enjoyable.

"Sightseeing isn't as important to me right now," he said. "I am more excited about the (gala) concert."

E-mail: cdifonzo@lnpnews.com